Aims: We examined the association between inflammation and progression of arterial stiffness in a population of youth with type 1 diabetes (T1D).
Methods: A total of 287 youth with T1D (median age 13 years) from SEARCH CVD, an ancillary study to the SEARCH for Diabetes in Youth, were included. Markers of inflammation (CRP, IL-6, fibrinogen, leptin, and adiponectin) and measures of pulse wave velocity (PWV) of the arm (PWV-R), trunk (PWV-T), and lower extremity (PWV-LE) were measured at baseline. Measures of PWV were repeated approximately five years later.
Results: PWV-R (0.50 m/s), PWV-T (0.65 m/s), and PWV-LE (1.0 m/s) significantly increased over the follow-up (p < 0.001 for each). A significant interaction was found between waist circumference and fibrinogen (p = 0.036) on the progression of PWV-T, suggesting that fibrinogen is more strongly associated with PWV progression in lean participants.
Conclusions: Improved understanding of adiposity, inflammation, and functional changes in the vascular system in patients with T1D is crucial.
Keywords: Arterial stiffness; Fibrinogen; Inflammation; Pulse wave analysis; Type 1 diabetes mellitus; Waist circumference.
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